The 13 Weirdest Road Trip Attractions in the U.S.

A road trip is the ultimate experience. You get to see many landmarks and destinations. The U.S. is full of unique and unusual attractions you won’t find anywhere else.

When planning this kind of adventure, it’s essential to include the necessities like snacks, a rocking playlist, good AC, and a few stops to make things more interesting.

We’ve compiled a list of the weirdest road trip attractions that will make your trip unforgettable.

Lucy the Elephant, New Jersey

Not every day, you see a giant elephant while driving to the shore. Hailed as the “World’s Greatest Elephant,” Lucy The Elephant is a six-story elephant on a beach in Margate, New Jersey.

She was built out of wood and clad in 1882 by James V. Lafferty to attract potential real estate buyers to Margate. The Elephant quickly became a popular tourist attraction and is now a National Historic Landmark.

Carhenge, Nebraska

If you’ve heard of Stonehenge, this next road trip attraction may look familiar. Carhenge is a quirky replica of England’s Stonehenge, made of cars instead of stones.

This quirky attraction features 39 cars in a circle, with some held upright and others placed on top. Jim Reinders built Carhenge in 1987 and always dreamed of recreating Stonehenge, but with a unique twist.

Hole N” the Rock, Utah

Remember to stop at this infamous attraction when driving along U.S. Highway 191 in Utah. The Hole n” the Rock is located in San Juan County and features a home carved out of a large cliff. Albert Christensen began building the home in 1940 for his family, who moved into it in 1952.

When he passed in 1957, the home was opened for public tours. The unusual home features 14 rooms, a deep bathtub, furniture, and tools used to build the house, making it an iconic landmark that travelers across the globe flock to see.

Cadillac Ranch, Texas

Built in 1974, Cadillac Ranch is an art sculpture in Amarillo, Texas, that’s quite the sight to see. The sculpture was created by Chip Lord, Doug Michels, and Hudson Marquez and makes for an unusual attraction.

The ranch consists of ten Cadillacs buried nose first in the ground, one behind the other. The funky, vibrant spray-painted designs on the cars weren’t part of the original design, as tourists have added them throughout the years.

Wall Drug Store, South Dakota

The Wall Drug Store began as a pit stop for travelers to enjoy free ice water, and today, it’s a popular roadside stop that attracts 2 million visitors annually.

You’ll find plenty of unique trinkets and souvenirs, delicious homemade treats, and a fresh glass of ice-cold water here. The store is an iconic stop with years of history behind it that’s worth seeing if you’re in the area.

The Shoe Tree of Middlegate, Nevada

Along U.S. Highway 50, you’ll find the Shoe Tree of Middlegate. The tree is hard to miss—located on barren desert land, it’s covered in shoes hanging by their laces and has a good story.

According to folklore, a newlywed couple was driving home from their wedding and got into a fight. The wife got out of the car, threatening to walk home. The husband told her she’d have to go barefoot if she did. He threw her shoes up into the tree, where they got stuck, and that’s how the tradition began.

World’s Largest Frying Pan, North Carolina

We bet you’ve never seen a frying pan this big. Built in 1963, the world’s largest frying pan is in North Carolina. The Ramsey Feed Company of Rose Hill first built it to pay tribute to the town’s poultry industry.

It’s 15 feet wide, holds up to 200 gallons of cooking oil, and can cook up to 365 chickens. Due to its sheer size, the pan must be split into wedges when cooking.

Bubblegum Alley, California

While it’s often compared to Seattle’s iconic Gum Wall, Bubblegum Alley is a popular road trip attraction that distinguishes itself from Seattle’s well-known landmark.

The 70-foot-long and 15-foot-high wall is covered in layers of chewing gum, a tradition that started in the 1970s. If you love bubblegum and weird things, this place is a sight to see. You can even contribute your own wad of chewing gum.

World’s Biggest Ball of Paint, Indiana

Wait to drive through Indiana before stopping by this infamous attraction. The Biggest Ball of Paint started as a baseball. Michael Carmichael, the man behind the ball, got his young son to paint over it, and now it weighs over 2.5 tons.

At first, Michael intended to cut the ball in half to see what the inside looked like, but now that it’s become such a famous landmark, he leaves it for travelers and visitors.

Pineapple Garden Maze, Hawaii

You may have been in a garden maze, but this is the first time you’ve seen one like this. The Pineapple Garden Maze is located along the Kamehameha Highway and was named the world’s most giant maze.

It spans over three acres, and while walking through it, you’ll find beautiful Hawaiian plants, along with informational stops. In the center, you’ll see the giant iconic pineapple.

Enchanted Highway, North Dakota

Prepare to be awed by the unexpected sights along North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway. Starting at Exit 72 on I-94, you’ll find sculptures like the giant metal geese known as Geese in Flight, The World’s Largest Tin Family: Deer Crossing, and more.

The highway features a gift shop where you can buy miniatures of every statue as a keepsake of your trip. The restaurant and accommodation also serve delicious homemade food.

The Four Corners, New Mexico

You will want to take advantage of this monument in New Mexico. The Four Corners is the only place you can go where four states meet: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

While some have suggested that the monument is 1,800 feet from the intersection, it’s a unique landmark worth adding to your Southwest road trip bucket list.

Cross Island Chapel, New York

Not only is it one of the smallest churches in the world (it’s about large enough to fit three people inside), but it’s also floating in the middle of a pond.

The tiny white chapel was built in 1989 and floats along the luscious pond—making it one of the most unique churches.

It has under 30 square feet of space inside and is one of the weirdest road trip attractions near the Big Apple.